Shawn Carlson outlasted the top drag racers in Brainerd International Raceway’s Bracket Drag Racing Series Sunday, July 23, to win the coveted title of King of the Track and take home a Wally trophy – the first in his drag racing career.

Carlson’s the first to admit that he’s kind of an unlikely candidate for such royalty even though he’s been in first place in the Sportsman class all season. His 1973 Plymouth Scamp, which he’s been racing for only three years, doesn’t have the electronics and gadgetry that most of the fastest cars have. Plus, the 14 drivers in the King of the Track race typically are far more experienced.

But that didn’t seem to matter on Sunday. “It was pretty cool,” Carlson said of his finish. “The car was getting hot because I was making a lot of runs in Pro ET and Sportsman, but we decided that we had to race – it was for the King of the Track!”

Carlson had gone four rounds in Pro ET and three rounds in the Sportsman class before getting to the King of the Track race. He beat Rory Emmans, Heather Ingman and Reno Loeffelholz to earn his way to the finals, which presented a good news/bad news proposition. The good news was that he was one win away from earning the crown; the bad news was that he was racing Ben Line, who is arguably one of the toughest racers in the series and has been for years.

Carlson and Line had similar reaction times at the starting line but Carlson was able to hold Line off at the finish line, posting a winning time of 12.119 seconds and 106.13 mph.

Another notable finish from last weekend was Luke Schneider, who was well behind in the Sportsman standings but with 29 drivers racing in that class last weekend, he won both Saturday and Sunday. That should vault him up significantly in the standings. Schneider, who was the only double winner last weekend, beat Lee Dugdale in both finals. Dugdale was in fifth place in the standings.

The King of the Track race was part of the fifth race weekend in the Bracket Drag Racing Series. There’s only one weekend left: Sept. 30-Oct. 1. That race will determine series champions in 10 of the 11 classes and is also the NHRA All Access Challenge, commonly called the “Wally Race.” On Saturday, the winners of the Super Pro, Pro ET, Sportsman, Pro Bike/Sled, Comp Trophy and Street Trophy classes will receive a Wally trophy, like the kind that the pros in the NHRA win.

The Stock/Super Stock class will not race in the final series weekend. That class determined its series champion on Sunday. Glen DeMenge finished off the season on top of the point standings, edging out second place finisher Ben Line.  [07/27/17]

For the first time NMRA/NMCA will offer a full Thursday Test & Tune (July 27) to all Super Bowl of Street-Legal Drag Racing competitors. The largest street car drag racing event of the year, the 12th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street-Legal Drag Racing presented by Precision Turbo takes place at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL, July 27-30. This is one of only two events that bring all the cars and all the stars of NMRA and NMCA drag racing the same weekend.

“The addition of the full Thursday Test & Tune is a direct result of Route 66 Raceway and NMRA/NMCA listening to our racers and reacting to their needs,” said Rollie Miller, National Event Director for NMRA & NMCA. “Improving the racer experience is the essence of our ProPledge customer service commitment. Previously we had been unable to accommodate a full Friday Test & Tune and we are now able to offer it as a Thursday option.”

Heads-up and index racers can expert track prep from TJ Bailey, the official starter of NMRA & NMCA, and Kurt Johnson of Total Venue Concepts. Test & Tune entries can be purchased for an additional fee at the NMRA/NMCA registration trailer at the event.  [07/27/17]

It was a thrilling weekend in Denver for Pro Stock Motorcycle standout Eddie Krawiec, who won his second event of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. But beyond the victory on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, qualifying No. 1 also ensured he kept the points lead for the Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike Battle.

The race within in a race for eight top Pro Stock Motorcycle riders takes place June 29, as part of this weekend’s 30th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway, with the winner earning $10,000. Keeping the No. 1 spot was a big priority for Krawiec, who immediately mentioned why he was so excited to qualify No. 1 in Denver.

“The NHRA Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike battle – I didn’t want to lose (the points lead for it),” Krawiec said. “Jerry (Savoie) and LE (Tonglet) have been grabbing up those points left and right, so it was good for me to maintain and move forward, and the same for Andrew (Hines).”

As the top seed, Krawiec will match up with Chip Ellis in the opening round.

Defending Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike Battle winner Andrew Hines will meet two-time world champ Matt Smith, while the other first-round matchups include current points leader and four-time 2017 winner LE Tonglet facing off with three-time world champ Angelle Sampey, and reigning world champ Jerry Savoie racing Hector Arana Jr.

The first round of the Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike Battle takes place at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The semifinals follow at 4:15 p.m., with the final round slated for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.  (Ron Lewis photo) [07/27/17]